In OSM speak, a "camp site" is the larger area that contains one or more "camp pitches". A camp pitch is the area where one caravan, motor home or family tent is setup. This is the British wording, default choice for OSM.

A subkey to tourism=camp_site or tourism=caravan_site that defines 4 levels that camp site may be at in terms of facilities. While there are very many characteristics of a camp site that an end user may be interested in, we believe its possible to identify a small number that are, themselves indicative.

Applies To

The tag is intended to describe tourist focused camps, not other facilities that also use the word "camp" such as refugee or emergency accommodation.

Rationale

Camping is a popular recreation in many parts of the world and the facilities offered to campers varies over a huge range. Some campers would not consider using a camp site that does not have a toilet, other expect substantial recreational facilities on site . Someone may just want somewhere to pull up their motor home over night. This tag is intended to provide a first level filter to the potentially vast number of camp sites OSM could list.

This tag does not make all the specific amenity=* and leisure=* tags unnecessary, most campers will want extra information. This tag will just narrow their search a little. Additional tags could provide more information or could point to a external source of information.

"Legal" Camp Sites

This tag is designed to describe only camp sites that are "legal". The mapper should ensure the site being mapped is legal in the same way he/she ensures other data they enter is as accurate as possible. However, "legal" when applied to camping has quite different meanings in different parts of the world. This is particularly so in the lower level facilities, basic and standard. Depending on where the camp site is, at least the following are possible:

In jurisdictions where the default is to not allow camping. A positive indication that camping is permitted, a sign, a mention in official documents etc.

In jurisdictions that allow camping by default the absence of a sign or other indication may be enough to satisfy the mapper that the site is legal.

Please don't use this tag on sites where the legal status is unclear. Its inappropriate to use it on private property except where explicit permission is granted (for example, a commercial camp ground) and its clear that is the case. Don't use it where common use is the only indicator that camping is allowed.

Another tag, Proposed_features/camp_type= is probably a far better fit where the legal status is not clear. This tag is both an alternative and a possible complement to camp_site=*